As Easter celebrations go, Seville’s Semana Santa (Holy Week) is certainly one of the most spectacular.
Every year, for one whole week, the centre of Spain’s fourth largest city comes to an almost complete standstill. As thousands of women, children and men in pointy hats march through the streets with giant floats carrying life-sized figurines of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary.
What is Semana Santa?
A week of processions (religious parades), dating back to around the 16th Century, dedicated to celebrating the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Every day up to nine processions, made up of up to 3,100 people, wind through the streets of Seville – some taking up to sixteen hours to complete.
Semana Santa is the ultimate way for local people to exhibit their passion and commitment to their faith.
Who takes part in Semana Santa?
Around 60-70 local cofradias (church brotherhoods) take part in Semana Santa, practising for months beforehand. Each brotherhood has up to 3,100 people.
Nazarenos, march behind or in front of processions, wearing pointed hats.
Thirty to forty Costaleros (generally, men with redraw necks wearing white and blue vests and headscarves) carry hefty ice-cream van sized floats (misterios) with life-sized figurines of Jesus and the Virgin Mary, depicting scenes from the Bible. They are usually accompanied by brass bands playing sorrowful hymns.
Why do they wear those pointy hats?
The eery-looking headwear was created so those repenting sins could do so anonymously. It is completely unrelated to the KKK despite looking unnervingly similar.
When is Semana Santa?
This year, Semana Santa went from Sunday 25th March until Sunday 31st March 2018.
What else do I need to know?
Some processions go on throughout the night, until the early hours.
If you get stuck in a procession you might be there for a while.
Don’t wear t-shirts and shorts during Semana Santa.
On Good Friday women don mantillas (lace headwear) and dress in black.
Nazarenos give out sweets to kids on the way around.
Children make wax balls from drippings from candles of Nazarenos.
Incense is burned during processions so you might smell them before you see them coming.
If you want to visit next year, book up early as accommodation goes fast and is expensive.
Maps and schedules are given out throughout Semana Santa so you know where to see processions.
Police clear the streets so processions can start.
A young member of a brotherhood prepares to march.
Nazarenos preparing to march.
A paso (float) passes by Plaza Cristo de Burgos
One of the more serious processions.
Those in processions often take things extremely serious.
On Good Friday, local Sevillana women wear black and distinctive headwear (mantillas) to morn the death of Jesus Christ
A sombre figure stands in front of Virgin Mary.
A member of the band plays under the blaring sun.
The thundering, sombre music is too much for one child.
A young Nazareno preparing for the procession.
Locals take their seats early to get the best view of processions.
The ornate, gold-covered pasos are meticulously decorated.
A Nazareno preparing for a processions
Members of a band take a bit after a long day.
Two young men lead the procession
Nazarenos give out sweets to children during processions.
Repenting sins.
A stern-looking local women wearing a mantilla
A group of Costaleros passing through Plaza Cristo de Burgos after a long day.
A rare glimpse of a Costalero, usually unseen beneath the pasos
Nazarenos light candles for evening processions.
Children make wax balls from candles during evening processions that can go on until the early hours of the morning.
A young man shows off his ball of wax.
A float passes Sevilla's iconic Cathedral.
A procession squeezes through the narrow, candle-lit streets.
Thousands of people gather at Plaza Cristo de Burgos to catch a glimpse of Jesus and the Virgin Mary. They cry "guapa" (beautiful) and cheer as she passes.
